During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever maintaining a good housekeeping onboard can help prevent the virus spread. In view of this, the American P&I Club reminds key tips which are important to follow in general for a safe workplace onboard a vessel.

NTSB issued an investigation report on the flooding and sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Pacific 1 while in the Bering Sea, Alaska, in February 2019. The report identified the master’s decision to remain at sea with continuous flooding as key cause of the sinking.

The Maritime Authority of Cayman Islands issued guidance on the new requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear, entering into force on 1st January 2020.

Bureau Veritas focuses on SOLAS Chapter III amendments, which will be applied on January 1, 2020, including requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear.

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report, according to which persistent and substantial delays in vessel maintenance threaten the U.S. Navy’s ability to sustain readiness. The delays are an expense, leading to increased costs, with GAO estimating that the Navy spent more than $1.5 billion in support costs from FY 2008-2018 due to delayed maintenance for its attack submarines alone.

Classification Society ClassNK has concluded a joint research agreement for developing advanced condition-based maintenance (CBM); a new maintenance and management system to be used for the machineries of autonomous ships, as well as to further establish a new classification survey scheme based on CBM.

1st January of 2020 marks the beginning for many regulatory updates for shipping. One of them is the new IMO requirements for the maintenance, examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats; the following article outlines key changes to assist operators in effective compliance with new requirements.

The Marine Safety Forum published safety alert describing a rescue boat davit failure during the boat’s periodic launch and testing. There were no injuries as a result of the incident, which was attributed to the good practice of lowering the rescue boat unmanned.

In its latest Safety Flashes, IMCA presented a case of water ingress which caused a crew boat to list, while in its first voyage after drydocking. IMCA noted there was no post-drydock maintenance inspection or dedicated testing to ensure that everything done in drydock was done properly.